Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1887-01-22
THE ALLEGED CONSOLIDATION.

say anything natSn AUOut tuc uiioSeo''
of the Shor: Line railway who, 1t Is
said, propose to form a coalition with
the Missouri Central railroad, In order
to secure a road for themselves, at the
same time hat they abandon some OF
their associates in the enterprise, rather
sans ceremonie. But, if the boot were
on the other leg, we imagine there
would be some ranting and tearing OF
hair, if not gnashing of teeth.
We are not of that turn, however.
Like Mark Tapley we are given to
coming out jolly under adverse circum'
stances, and, like the gallant
Captain Lawrence, if we die we
shall depart to the abode OF the
blest with the exclamation, "Don't
give up the road!" And we won't give
it up. We have been in this enterprise
in good faith. We have done all we
could in it's behalf. We have been
ready at any and all times to stand by
our associates in it, and no terms oon-
templating their abandonment in mid
air, suspended by the hair OF the head
from a thorn tree, would ever have
been contemplated by us. Nor will it
in cooler blood be thought of by them.
But, seriously. There is to be a
great deal of railroad building in 1887.
The brisk demand for iron and the ma
LAaaalsdyance in price indicate this be-
ton. 1t is almost certain that
mi be built from st. Louis to
EausarCity. Where is it to be! That
is the question. The Missouri Central
has surrendered its claim to having the
pest route in giving up its line from st.
| Louis to the second crossing of the
| Missouri river, as is indicated in the
| attempted consolidation. There Is nc
| doubt that the Short Line route, that
far, is the better Of the two. The Mis-
| souri, Central admits this. If the SUI
periority of the Short Line is manifest
to the Missouri river, it can be easily
| shown that it is very much superior
from the Missouri river to Kansas City
| This is what the investors will look at
We say to them that there is no com
parison in the desirsbility of the two
routes, and that everything Is in favor
of the one through Marshall and Lex
ington. The proposed route Is, instead
by way of Brownsville and Lees Sum
NIT. No one will question the greater
value of the business in the former
places. The coal of Lexington alone
for which there Is more demand thar
can now be supplied, for want of cars
ia worth more to . railroad than thu
business of both OF the places named
and the Short Line by its proposed
route through this county would rur
through a coal field twenty miles long
every mile of which can be utilized
Marshall and Lexington are very mucl
superior as business towns to Browns
vile and Lees Summit, and will con.
tinue to be. Their shipments are WORT
a great deal now aud can be vastly
Augmented. As to the fertility OF tn
surface upon the two lines, who tina
has ever been on the Grand Pass plain
of Saline, the beautiful lands of Mid
dleton and Dover townships in Lafay
cite, and Fire Prairie bottom in Jack
son, would compare them2 Besid
which, the grades upon the norther'
route would be very much the easier
and the building of the road less 81
pensive. No better or cheaper rout
can be found than the one from Salin
City, through Marshall and Lexingto
to Kansas City. 1t il fifteen or sixtee
miles shorter than the new tangled on
proposed. 1t is through two larg
county seats. 1t is over a better coul
try beyond compare. 1t is throug
coal fields that the best fnancier
America, Jay Gould, appreciates an
values.
The gentlemen who intend to p'
their money into this railway will
d well to see that no outside %speculati'
f enterprises are permitted to infuen'
: the location OF the road.
D We say to the directors: Stand
the Short Line. 1t is the best propose
+ route through the state; it is the shor
est; it strings together the county sea
of eight OF the best counties in MI
d souri,. Fair dealing demands that "
u should do this ; good faith demands